Tool for Success | List Producer

Produce Your Life With Lists

December 5, 2012/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Fashion, Food, Health, Holidays, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Radio, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Shopping, Technology, Tool for Success, Travel, TV/by Paula Rizzo

As a TV producer — I think in lists all day long: segment ideas, schedules, questions, shots, etc. Many of the skills I use at work come in handy in my everyday life too. Grocery shopping, looking for an apartment, traveling and even clothing shopping becomes much easier with a plan — and a list!

If you think of your life like a newscast — and break it up into little bite-sized segments — it will be much easier to manage and be successful. I talked to Hilary Topper on her show, “Hilary Topper On Air” about how thinking like a producer will make you more efficient and less stressed in every aspect of your life. We talked about websites to make your life simpler, how to get your holiday shopping done with ease and ways to save money.

Take a listen to her show on Blog Talk Radio and let me know what you think!

Ways to Get Holiday Cards Under Control

December 2, 2012/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Guest Posts, Holidays, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I’m a stationery junkie — I love it! There’s something so nice about hand writing out a letter or card. I’ll admit though — writing out holiday cards can be overwhelming. But I start months in advance to make it less daunting.

I have an ongoing document that I use to print out address labels. I add to it throughout the year and change addresses when someone on the list moves. I keep it in Dropbox so I can access it anywhere, anytime. Then I start filling out the cards slowly — a little every night. That way it’s not too much of a chore and I actually enjoy it. Then I stuff, seal and stamp slowly too. And here we are at the very beginning of December…and I’m done.

Founder of “Bootights” Relies on To-Do Lists

November 27, 2012/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Guest Posts, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Oprah, Saving Money, Saving Time, School, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I love clever stuff. Those things that make you go “why didn’t I think of that?” That’s how I feel about Bootights! You know how you have to wear socks inside your boots even when you’re wearing tights? Just so you don’t destroy the tights or your feet don’t freeze? Well Bootights are tights that are especially designed to wear with boots! Yep — brilliant, right?

The founder Shelby Mason is a list maker just like us! So naturally, she’s my featured list producer: Read more

3 Ways to Be Less Stressed for the Holidays

November 25, 2012/0 Comments/in Holidays, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

christmas 2007 (Photo credit: paparutzi)

It’s pretty much impossible to not feel the heat when the holidays arrive. Gift giving, traveling, entertaining, cooking, parties, expenses, family — the list of stressers go on and on! For the past few years I’ve been making a conscious effort to go easy on myself. Here’s some of the ways I combat holiday stress:

1. Start holiday shopping early: Don’t wait til the last second! It will only stress you out. You have more than enough time to get gifts for everyone on your list without doing the crazy person dash on Christmas Eve. Online shopping is pretty much the best invention ever. Use it to your advantage! Lots of retailers offer free shipping too. Read more

6 Tips for Working Through Distractions

November 6, 2012/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Increase Productivity, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot : FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Being back to work after Hurricane Sandy with my whole team has been a great morale booster. So happy everyone made it in and I could see all their familiar faces — it’s one more sign that life is returning back to normal.

But it’s easy to get distracted with all the war stories being tossed around. Plus — many people have to deal with insurance claims (myself mostly) and worries of childcare, heat, hot water and power at home. So getting actual work done is quite a challenge. Here’s some tips:

1. Tune out: I’ve gotten very good at this over the years from working in busy news rooms but it does take some practice. Engage for a bit and listen to all the stories from your coworkers but then at some point you have to mentally check out. This will allow you to focus on tasks in front of you. Sometimes headphones will help — I suggest blasting Dave Matthews Band or your favorite to drown out sounds around you. Read more